Satsop boat launch and WDFW

FYI, I have sent an E-mail to WDFW advising them of the problems with the launch at SR 12 below the Satsop Bridge. This is a State designed and constructed ramp that is certified as an offical launch and requires a 2004 user sticker/stamp to used the facility. I have informed them of the potential loss of a boat, vehicle or LIFE as a result of the design of this ramp. I can't help but think there is some liability here. Nobody is using the ramp because of the design and everyone is going to Fuller bridge, gee can it get more crowded ? One boat at a time can launch or pull out. I would encourage others to e-mail these people. They have been informed, balls in their court !

And further more isn't the launch at Fuller Bridge a beauty. Come to think of it, you can't even use the ramp. The Satsop ramps are a joke. Have you seen the launch at the West Fork. I will do what I can to get this fixed before someone gets hurt. Not much can be done this year though, high water is coming.

The two ways to use that launch without losing your DB include bringing your boat entirely out of teh water, or just do what the sled jockeys do and angle your trailer downstream. The state just needs to add more concrete to the left side of the ramp.

It was pretty scary until I used those two methods.

Dogfish is dead right as usual. This is by far the easiest way to do it. I've seen way too many close calls down there. I helped a couple local guys get thier boat off the bank below the ramp late last season. This ramp will test even the seasoned boat handler. Be careful down there!

Friends of mine broke 2 rails on their trailer last week because of the unstable nature of the boat in a cross-current......and they are seasoned boat handlers. They were livid. One is seriously contemplating going to the Monte office with a bill for repairs.

The brambles in the river 50' below the ramp are pretty handy though, I helped rope a boat out of there a couple weeks back if it had'nt been for the brush he would of ended up in the Chehelis. If the water was any higher he would have been swimming to get a line on it. No good solutions for that one, just a bad location. BE CAREFUL!

Yeah, nice access there on the Satsop. Chuck your boat down a hill, or across some rocks to get it in, and then load it in a cross-current when you take out. Perfect.

Haven't seen a thing out of that little sticker since we've had to buy them. Wasn't that money supposed to be for something?

No shiat Dan!

I just wish they'd call it what it is, a tax. Because it sure dosn't pay for anything that I can see.

It gives them more money to study the effects of all those tail lights at all of the good launches.
Seattle is one of the only cities in the nation that does not have some type of mass transit in place.

I received a reply from Terry Legg of DOFW.
E-mail address leggtjl@dfw.wa.gov.

He gave the following information.
Some excerpts from his e-mails.

I appreciate your concerns and they are well justified. The water velocity at this site can be fast. Launching a boat at that site requires a great deal of care and someone with experience, especcially at high water.

There are certain dangers associated with launching any boat from a trailer into moving water, especially at a 90 degree angle, etc.
However when dealing with the forces of nature there is no guarantee of persononal safety.

I doubt the if the Satsop ramp would be constructed the same way today.
I can't do anything about them until we get funding and other ramps in worse condition are take care of first.

At least he responded to by E-mails, I don't think it's his call. But they NOW know and admitt there are problems with the launch.